A Comparative Analysis of the Physico-chemical Properties and Heavy Metal Pollution in Three Major Rivers across India

There is severe deterioration in the quality of water due to the discharge of municipal and industrial effluents into the rivers. The municipal pollutants majorly comprise of untreated domestic and sewage wastes, while the industrial pollutants constitute the discharge of heavy metals into the river which is responsible for the increase in metal load in water. In this study we have carried out a comparative analysis of the various physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal load in three major rivers of India. The water quality of the Ganges river at Kanpur and Varanasi, the Yamuna river at Delhi and the Sabarmati river at Ahmedabad were analyzed for the determination of metal load (Lead, Copper, Zinc, Chromium, Cadmium and Nickel) and biological load (physico-chemical parameters like pH, Total dissolved solids, Total suspended solids, Biological oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand and Total coliform). Our study indicates that, of the four stations, the levels of Chromium exceeded the acceptable levels in the Yamuna river (0.08mg/L). The levels of Cadmium and Lead were found to be within permissible limits, however, as they tend to persist in the system for a long time, they undergo bioaccumulation and biomagnification. This leads to severe nephrosis and liver damage over a long period of time.